Form spreader



Dec. 13, 1938. I w. A. FERRIS 2,140,153

FORM SPREADER Filed May a; 1955 INVEN TOR. #QLLAGEA FEE/Q5 By ATTOkNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to form spreaders, and particularly to improvements over my Patent No. 1,735,198, for Form spacer for concrete flreprooflng for steel structures.

7 In the placing of form spreaders between wood forms for concrete walls, and the like, and cinching up the forms towards each other and against the Spreaders, the ends of the Spreaders, when made of thin metal plate, either flat, angular, or otherwise formed, are forced or buried a considerable distance into the wood of the forms, thus making the wall face uneven, the wall thinner than intended, and ruining the form boards.

The object of this invention is to provide a form spreader in which the foregoing defects are obviated.

Another object is to provide a device of this class in which a relatively large flat base is provided at the end of a form spreader made from thin metal plate, and in which such base is made easily and economically.

A further object of this invention is to provide as wide a base or foot as possible for stability, and still provide such a spreader which may be readily shifted into place.

With the foregoing objects in View, I have devised a form spreader having certain novel features of construction as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my form tie;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of a wall form showing my form spreader therein, and showing, by dotted lines, the form spreader before the same is shifted to its proper position;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views thereof taken through 3-3 and 44 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views of my form spreaders in slightly modified forms.

My form spreader is preferably made of relatively light or thin metal plate bent in angular cross-section, forming flanges I and 2. The ends of the flanges at both ends of the strip are bent laterally to form flat bases or shoulders. At one end of the strip, one laterally bent portion or ear is bent outwardly and the other is bent inwardly, as shown by 3 and 4, and at the opposite end they are, likewise bent outwardly and inwardly, as shown by 5 and 6, but the ears at the opposite ends of each flange are bent in the opposite lateral directions, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The strip is also provided at one end with a prong or point 1 which is a longitudinal extension of the vertex portion 8 formed by the two flanges I and 2.

In practice two form boards or wood form walls H and I2 are built up in spaced relation. The spreader is then placed between the walls with the prong or point l partly driven into one. The spreader is then shifted from the dotted line position in Fig. 2 to the solid line position. The form walls are then cinched against the flat bases 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the spreader by the tie wire B, or other suitable means. The bending of the alternate ears 4 and 6 inwardly shortens the lateral extent of the base and thus facilitates the shifting of the spreader from the dotted to the solid line position in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5, both ears I5 and H5, at the end op posite the pointed end, are bent inwardly. This construction facilitates lateral shifting of the free end of the spreader, although the base is not as large and stable.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a larger base by bending both ears I! and I8 outwardly, but the lateral shifting is not effected as readily.

Though I have shown a particular construction and certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A form spreader, comprising a thin metal strip of angular cross-section to provide two longitudinal flanges set at right angles to each other, the opposite ends of one flange being bent in opposite lateral directions to form ears and the opposite ends of the other flange being also bent in the opposite lateral directions to form ears but opposed to the ears on the first flange, said strip having a prong extending beyond the ears at one end and in line with the vertex formed by the two flanges.

2. A form spreader, comprising a thin metal strip of angular cross-section providing two longitudinal flanges set at an angle to each other, the opposite ends of both flanges being bent at right angles forming .at one end a pair of spaced ears, said strip having a prong extending beyond said ears at said end and in line with the vertex formed by the two flanges.

3. A form spreader, comprising a thin metal strip of angular cross-section providing two longitudinal flanges set at an angle to each other, the opposite ends of both flanges being bent at right angles to form ears, said strip having a prong extending beyond the ears at one end and in line with the vertex formed by the two flanges, the ears, at the end of the spreader having the prong, being bent in opposite lateral directions with respect to the flanges.

4. A form spreader, comprising a thin metal strip of angular cross-section providing two longitudinal flanges set at an angle to each other, the

opposite ends of both flanges being bent at right angles to form ears, said strip having a prong extending beyond. the ears at one end and in line with the vertex formed by the two flanges, the ears, at the end of the spreader having the prong, being bent in opposite lateral directions with respect to the flanges, and the ears at the opposite end being bent inwardly toward each other.

WALLACE A. FERRIS. 

